In a major revamp after the Lok Sabha
polls disappointment, the BSP has decided to sideline party hoppers and
leaders with criminal background and focus on expanding its base among
backward castes.

The decision was
taken by party supremo Mayawati who had dissolved all district level
and caste based committees after the party bagged only 20 of the 80 Lok
Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, far short of its expectation.

“As decided by the
party supremo Mayawati during a meeting with the senior functionaries
on May 20, the state had been divided in 10 zones and new zonal
coordinators have been appointed,” party sources said in Lucknow.

They said that the
zonal coordinators had been asked to induct only active workers having
clean image in the party organisation while sidelining “party hoppers”.

“It had been made
clear by the party supremo that those having criminal background or bad
image should be shown the door,” the sources said, adding “that those
who had joined the party due to their vested interest will also be
shown the door.”

BSP begins revamp of party structure

Special Correspondent

Mayawati doesn’t want a repeat of LS poll performance

Organisational structure divided into 11 zones

Panchayati Raj Minister Babu Ram Kushwaha to meet MLAs twice a week

LUCKNOW: With the Bahujan Samaj Party’s average performance in the
Lok Sabha elections behind her, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati
has set in motion the process of revamping the party structure.

The exercise, initiated after a marathon meeting with MLAs,
Ministers and coordinators on Wednesday, is aimed at strengthening the
organisation. Ms. Mayawati does not want a repeat of the BSP’s
performance in the Lok Sabha elections, in which the party won a mere
20 seats out of the 80 at stake in the State.

For better coordination, the organisational structure has been
divided into 11 zones, which have been put under the charge of
coordinators. According to a BSP spokesperson, the post of divisional
in-charge, which was created before the elections, has been abolished.
Now the party in-charge will be appointed at the Lok Sabha level.

No sacking of ministers

The Chief Minister sacked several coordinators, who were tasked with
enlisting the support of different castes. Ms. Mayawati, however,
stopped short of sacking at least half-a-dozen ministers for the
party’s poor performance. A late-night BSP statement scotched rumours
that some ministers had been asked to put in their papers.

The other significant change related to complaints of MLAs, who
attributed the party’s losses in several key constituencies to the
“arrogant and haughty conduct of officers and ministers.” Ms. Mayawati
asked Panchayati Raj Minister Babu Ram Kushwaha to meet the MLAs twice
a week in the party office here and report to her on their demands. She
has also asked the MLAs to prepare for the Vidhan Sabha elections due
in 2012.